Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-01-20


! can't imagine why you try TO palm on
me such an erroneous statement II is ut
terly unintelligible and repudiate your
nonsense altogether. This is what | said
in my letter: by the census of 1860 there
were $1,000 slaves in our State. We, their
unquestioned owners, were deprived of
them ny the orders and proceedings Of the
General Government. This was, of course,
done under the provision of the Constitu-
ton of the United States that gave il pow
er ito appropriate for public use the pri-
vate property of the citizen and which
also declares that when so taken just COM
pensation shall be given. These transac-
tons all took place between the election OF
President Lincoln and the adoption Of the
Constitution of Maryland in 1864 in which
slavery was abolished in our State" Any
person should think would comprehend
that the slaves taken and held in possession
of the General Government between those
periods are the slaves for which ii is respon-
sible, for if any were in possession Of their
owners at the time of the adoption Of the
Constitution of 1864 they would be effected
by it. How many the Government left be-
hind in our whole State is a matter of con-
lecture. My county iSt Mary's) however,
was deprived of ell but few who were
almost superannuated. This appears TO be
a plain statement of what | said, while
what you say that wrote cannot be I'M
derstood at all. Further ON you charge
me with saying that these slaves were
con6scGted from their unquestioned owners
by the orders and proceedings of the Gen
eral Government, &c" The above quota
ton from my letter shows that i did not
use the word "confscated." Property is
confiscated for crime and is forfeited TO the
Government which is under no obligation
10 pay for it; whereas, when taken or APP
propriated for public use the Constitution
requires that il shall be paid for. You
were evidently ignorant Of the import of
word coapsutSd.
In your fourth paragraph you say, mot
content with financial estimate Mr.. Har-
ris claims sympathy for the shareholders
for the vast discomfort, suffering and want
which they have endured by 80 long q
delay Of the compensation due them. He
calls upon Congress TO make appropria-
ton to promptly provide for the payment
Of this debt and 50 cheer the hearts of many
who from old age will soon sinh into their
graves and, IL their hopes are blighted, will
do so with the painful knowledge that those
they leave behind children and grand
childrenl viii suffer from perjury and
want" This Is substantially what said,
except that the word sympathy Is your
word to which / have no objection. You
make this quotation IS basis for your
main assault which win presently appear.
In the meantime, however, let me say that
/ can find no harm in the above. We
think the United States Government owes
Us for our slaves taken Is above. If 20, is
il improper 10 ask Congress 10 pay the debt
according % the immemorial requirement
in all American Constitutions. give justice
and right freely without sale. fully with
out denial and speedily without delay &C.
cording % the law OF tue lands" And il
they can Be induced TO perform their duty
through sympathy what harm il there in
engaging that feeling Is BY no process of
Law can we compel them 10 DO So
Though you have improved what I
said by the adding the word sympathy,
in the above quotation. Jet the appending
statement does not appear in tins least u
have touched your sympathefic nerve. but
you give way, and appear % have stu
diously designed 70 do -, % brutal dis
position in order 10 assail these respect.
ial petitioners IN uoss u1jussidshle man.